After surviving two break points in his opening service game, Nadal won the last five of the first set to assume control of the match.
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Nadal, the reigning champion, carried that momentum into the second set by opening with a break of serve and made one further gain to add further gloss to the triumph.
Nadal will now meet Grigor Dimitrov — a man he has beaten in all five previous meetings — in the quarters after the Bulgarian saw off world number nine Stan Wawrinka with a 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-3 win.
“I know what to expect from him and we all know what I’m going to put out there on the court, which is going to be a great performance,” Dimitrov said. “It’s one of those days where I really want to be out there on the court, playing against him on clay.
“I feel like I have been playing good tennis, so why not go out there and have fun, but at the same time, I know why I’m out there.”
Tomas Berdych defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 6-2, to set up a quarterfinal clash with John Isner — a 6-3, 6-7 (9-7), 6-3 victor over Nick Kyrgios.
Despite pushing his opponent to three sets, Kyrgios was unable to produce a repeat of the heroics that saw him knock out top seed Roger Federer on Wednesday.
